HARLEY Bennell's latest "hiccup" with his troublesome calves is likely to delay his long-awaited return to football by at least a month, barring any further setbacks.

The 24-year-old will be in rehabilitation over the next week or two and will then need a fortnight in main training before Fremantle medicos clear him to return via the WAFL.

Bennell's latest setback came at training on Tuesday when he felt "a grab" in his left calf – which he also hurt in November before being sent to Germany for specialist treatment.

Scans confirmed a minor strain, described by coach Ross Lyon as "less than a grade one" tear to his soleus muscle.

"Obviously he's devastated with that because he's an incredibly hard trainer. He's been so mentally tough and stayed the course," Lyon said.
"I was going to have a meeting with my leadership group and he came in with an ice bag on.

"He was concerned but the scans said it was really at the minor end, so he should be able to get going barring any other misfortune."

Bennell's latest episode comes after he needed treatment on his right calf at Fremantle Hospital a week ago, when he pulled up with delayed onset soreness from a heavier training workload.

"He's in the shadows of his heaviest load period in the gym and with his sprinting and training," Lyon said.

"He was coming down and being freshened up to come into the (main training) program.

"It's a hiccup in the space of seven or eight days on either leg."

Lyon declared the Dockers were "hopeful" and "expectant" that Bennell would soon start playing again.

The former Gold Coast star – who played 81 games and booted 92 goals for the Suns – missed the entire 2016 campaign due to problems with his right calf.

Bennell has only made one pre-season appearance for Freo and played one game for Peel Thunder since he was traded at the end of 2015.